Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Teaching old dog new tricks: Soul makes the difference
I've started reading "The Life You've Always Wanted" by John Ortberg. [I realize that I've got too many books in the fire but that's another story (grin).]
The following kicked in my head:
The possibility of transformation is the essence of hope.
We humans are creatures of habits ("practice makes permanent") and we can develop both good and bad habits. However, we each have a language driven soul, a part of us which transcends the physical reality [you can get a hint of language and transcendance on my "language doesn't exist" post]. Which can be changed or "morphed" as Ortberg calls it (he references the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the book). And hence we get all kinds of self help books, therapy, etc.
But as Walker Percy pointed out in "Lost in the Cosmos" it's not easy to do on your own. You can try to escape via drugs, sex, music ("rock and roll"), and even pretend suicide. But as long as you're trying on your own, things always go back to what it was before. Unless transformation takes place via outside force: Jesus Christ touching one's heart to show us the hopelessness of our own effort and the new life He promises and to take up on His offer. Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading the book.
The following kicked in my head:
The possibility of transformation is the essence of hope.
We humans are creatures of habits ("practice makes permanent") and we can develop both good and bad habits. However, we each have a language driven soul, a part of us which transcends the physical reality [you can get a hint of language and transcendance on my "language doesn't exist" post]. Which can be changed or "morphed" as Ortberg calls it (he references the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in the book). And hence we get all kinds of self help books, therapy, etc.
But as Walker Percy pointed out in "Lost in the Cosmos" it's not easy to do on your own. You can try to escape via drugs, sex, music ("rock and roll"), and even pretend suicide. But as long as you're trying on your own, things always go back to what it was before. Unless transformation takes place via outside force: Jesus Christ touching one's heart to show us the hopelessness of our own effort and the new life He promises and to take up on His offer. Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading the book.
